2012 Gift Guide: 9 Travel Gadgets for Families

Prevent unwanted spills with the AUTOSEAL Kids Trekker Cup. The bottle's patented lid is 100 percent spill- and leak-proof, and the cup automatically seals between sips. Best for children ages 3 to 12, the cup also has an easy grip shape for small hands. Starts at $6.99.

A smartphone, especially one in route, shouldn't be used without an Otterbox. We suggest the Defender Series, which features three layers of solid protection, including a built-in screen protector. You'll find it for $59.50 on the Otterbox Web site.

An alternative to digging around for smashed sandwiches in the trunk of the car, this bag features an insulated front compartment. Kids will love having everything -- music, games, books AND snacks -- within their reach, whether it's in the car or on the beach! Toys R Us sells the backpack for $29.99.

Move over, Rolex. This high-tech watch wirelessly connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and displays texts, emails, phone calls, pictures and more. Perfect for the family on the go. Priced at $389.

This is an essential gift for the traveling family in your life. With the Chargepod, you'll be able to charge your iPhone, iPad and camera in one place. The Chargepod allows you to charge up to six devices at once. Prices start at $49.95.

Kids (and their parents!) will thank you for the Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera, priced at about $40 at Toys R Us, and mentioned in our guide to surviving holiday travel. This durable gadget can survive drops and rough play, and will keep kids occupied on long trips. Best for children ages 4 to 7.

A parent's dream bag, the Ride-On Carry On instantly converts your roll-along suitcase into a travel stroller. Snap the chair on to your luggage, and stroll your youngster through the airport. The chair's padded headrest converts into a tray table for eating and playing. Buy it for $39.95.

Who wouldn't love a pair of headphones they could personalize and decorate? Not only can you customize them, but they're also volume limiting, fully adjustable and kid-sized. Store them in their matching case, which resembles a Crayola crayon! Priced at just $14.99.

The last thing any family wants is to lose a passport while traveling. The Changi Wallet, a little-known, fashionable suggestion made by TravelingMom.com, fits four to six passports comfortably. It also has several compartments designated for tickets, receipts, cash and boarding passes. Prices start around $160 SGD.